Cotton Pickin' confused

[daugen]

this is off JD's site:

Home / Cotton Harvesting / 7760 Cotton Picker
7760
Cotton Picker
Features & Specs

Onboard module building system
Full-time four-wheel drive
Heavy-duty row-unit gearcase
High-output sound system

See All Features

Seriously powerful machine, but why would JD list what sure sounds like a stereo system as one of the top four features? What am I missing?
Is there something about cotton harvesting that has anything to do with "sound"?...

Just having fun here, but I bet 535hp is more important to the farmer than a Sony stereo...

I was just curious to learn what a cotton picker/harvester looked like.
Looks like Bose has become optional.

update: actually no, just a standard single disc CD stereo with four small speakers. Huh?

 

[bigblock]

For what they cost they ought to have a great sound system!

 

[AGRIMAN]

For what they cost they ought to have a great sound system!

Yea... for $600,000 you would think that it would have at least one bath.

 

[AKfish]

Yea... for $600,000 you would think that it would have at least one bath.

Whoa.... now I know why my Carhartts are $50!

AKfish

 

[TripleR]

If you have never seen cotton harvesting, it really is interesting. I grew up picking and "tromping" cotton. The first automated pickers were mounted on tractors turned around backwards. When the harvest was finished, the picker was put on stands and the tractor used in regular mode.

The machines used ow are massive and with the advent of modules and trucks to carry them out, remotely operated "sucks" in the cotton gins, there isn't much physical labor involved anymore.

I worked in a high cotton producing area with an Interstate, north/south passing through and it was not uncommon to see someone pull over, jump the rails, run off into a field and pick a handful of raw cotton or uproot a whole plant.

 

[creekbend]

I have never picked cotton, but my Grandfather on my Father's side, told me that he did when he was young. He said that one's hands, at the end of the day, would be bleeding. He told me that gloves weren't very useful when picking cotton. Those massive machines have definitely increased production.

 

[daugen]

I haven't seen much cotton, which is why I was curious what a purpose built cotton harvester looked like. Like a lima bean harvester...what makes each one different? The crop of course, but I find the mechanicals interesting.
I remember seeing one field, all in white, and I wondered if the birds would come in and pick the cotton for their nests. Maybe wrong time of year, but who wouldn't want a supima cotton bed?...

These large harvesters, applicators, drills,etc, are remarkably complicated. Just looking at a hay baler makes me wonder how all those moving parts keep working and not get jammed with something.
Commercial farmers today sure need to have serious mechanical skills. I guess farmers always have.

 

[TripleR]

I have never picked cotton, but my Grandfather on my Father's side, told me that he did when he was young. He said that one's hands, at the end of the day, would be bleeding. He told me that gloves weren't very useful when picking cotton. Those massive machines have definitely increased production.

My mother took us to the cotton fields when we were old enough to drag on a cotton sack. If you were too little to keep up, you just sat or laid on the cotton sack and she dragged you behind her; much nice as the sack filled up. Once you got kind of mobile and wouldn't get left behind, you "helped" pick. You can't imagine how long it takes little fingers or even big ones for that matter to pick a pound of cotton and a good picker could do 300 pounds a day.

When you get use to it, you don't mess your hands up too much and develop a feel for the barbs before sliding your fingers between them to pick out the cotton.

When mechanical pickers were first used and for many years thereafter, we followed behind them and picked the cotton they missed. As pickers improved this was discontinued because the profit just wasn't there; being paid by the pound you had to do a lot of walking and scavenging to fill your bag. Cotton is also "graded" and if the prices are not high, the cotton containing dirt, leaves etc. was docked so much it just wasn't worth it.

I sure don't miss picking cotton and was glad to be put out of business in my teens by the pickers.

 

[daugen]

My mother took us to the cotton fields when we were old enough to drag on a cotton sack. If you were too little to keep up, you just sat or laid on the cotton sack and she dragged you behind her;

Marvelous memory, your Mom was strong!
We had feed corn planted for awhile in the front field, and in our front lawn was a big boulder, maybe ten feet by six feet wide, and about three feet high.
After playing "king on the mountain" on the rock, we would use it to hand grind corn cobs on the rock edge. We filled up burlap bags and after doing one bag, we
decided there were easier ways to make money for sure.

 

[AKfish]

I worked in a high cotton producing area with an Interstate, north/south passing through and it was not uncommon to see someone pull over, jump the rails, run off into a field and pick a handful of raw cotton or uproot a whole plant.

Why...? What can you do with a handful of raw cotton? Just the "novelty" of having it?

AKfish

 

[TripleR]

Why...? What can you do with a handful of raw cotton? Just the "novelty" of having it?

AKfish

Yes, just the novelty. My first job was in Kansas City, MO and my District Administrator was from New England somewhere. He had to make a trip down to my area shortly after I got there and he talked to everyone like he had been to a foreign land.

 

[daugen]

Why...? What can you do with a handful of raw cotton? Just the "novelty" of having it?

AKfish

Perhaps to them it was a field of flowers. Or they were always curious...


Along the same line, I still laugh at the carload of Asians who I found parked at the end of our lane all bedecked with cameras and dressed
very nicely. I'm guessing this was mid 70's.

Uh, Hi. Can I help you?
Oh Yes, Thank You. We would like to take a picture of a cow.
A cow?
Yes, I've never seen a cow.
Ma'am we don't have cows here.
Oh. Sorry.

I did head them in the general direction of a local dairy farmer, but
I don't think I quit chuckling for a week.

Doesn't have much to do with cotton but everything is a wonderment to someone.
Just hope they didn't repay the compliment but tossing a soda can out there.
I grew up picking up other people's tossed trash on our property and it
never amused me. We get a lot of tourists in our area, and maybe people are especially piggy
when they are out of town. Too bad it can't all be returned to sender.

 

[J35]

I believe this style is the latest in cotton picking tech.

How it works - Mississippi Cotton Harvest 2011 - YouTube

__J

 

[daugen]

neat video, thanks. Like a big rubber flail hooked up to a giant round hay baler.

I wonder if you could pluck duck feathers with that thing in the off season...

 

[TripleR]

Very interesting, those haven't made it up here yet. They are still dumping cotton into module builders.

Packing cotton (module builder) - YouTube

2009 Module Hauling - YouTube

 

[daugen]

I think after watching that packer go up and down for six minutes I'm ready for bed...
Equally interesting videos, thanks.
It's amazing what we take for granted when we buy a new pack of Hanes...

 

[AGRIMAN]

I believe this style is the latest in cotton picking tech.

How it works - Mississippi Cotton Harvest 2011 - YouTube

__J

Yes sir, that's pretty much it. I have put in a few hours on one myself. I haven't had the opportunity to run one of the new module building units yet. Both Deere and Case have their own versions and with a $600,000 price tag, they my not be for everyone just yet.

The main goal behind these units is to speed up harvest time (non stop) while also cutting labor and overhaul equip cost.

 

[bigtiller]

There is just too many people in the way for a good view, but here is what was called the "old number 8" cotton picker. The first one was made in 1950. It had a 2 row head, top picking speed of 2 mph, could pick as much cotton as 80 hand pickers and cost $15,000.

 

[plowindeeper]

With cotton @ $0.73 a # machine is wore out when you get it paid for. Probably take 20 # to pay for wrap. Not much profit in it without the government helping.
Fuel, fertilizer, pest control, manpower, equipment, land rent, ginning cost, crop insurance, equipment insurance and the list goes on an on. Seen my fair share of cotton farmers go under. A lot of older outdated mint condition shed kelp cotton pickers around here waiting on better prices while we plant beans.